Steve's Charity

by Michael
(Kansas)

One of my best friends was diagnosed with cancer at the age of 17. He was one of the kindest people I knew and him having cancer only made him seem more genuine and kind.

His head grew to a size that was so abnormal that he stood out in any public setting we ever entered together. People would point, stare, and even laugh at my friend Steve.

Little did they know that Steve was a 17 year-old cancer patient with 6 months left to live. What they also didn't know was that Steve was granted a wish by the grant a wish foundation and he asked them to start a charity for starving children in South Africa, which was where Steve's parents were from.

Steve passed away over two years ago, yet his charity still lives on and has helped hundreds of South Africans.

What can be learned from this is to never take someone's appearance at face value because not only can your reactions be hurtful to the person, but they may be completely irrelevant or unnecessary.

On top of that, we should recognize that even when the world leaves us with no hope, as it did for Steve, there is still something positive that we can do. There is still a good way in which you can leave your mark.